I recently listened to a great audio and wish I knew where to find it online. People in areas where there had been mandatory evacuations were calling 911 and begging for help.

Another pet peeve here. 911 is not for reporting a power outage. I mean, when did the police start working for the electric company? Only if someone is injured, sick or disabled and needs emergency assistance should you call 911 during a power outage. Otherwise, that's just plain stupid! I don't even call FPL. I mean, if my lights go off and I see nobody else in my area has power, then a phone call isn't going to do any good, is it? I suppose if I lived in a rural area where my closest neighbor was a mile away, it would be different.

The guy was a surf kite instructor he was about to take off his equipment when the gust of wind grabbed him and hurled him through the air.

I'm sorry but if you have a kite on your back in a hurricane there is something deeply wrong with you.

I recently read about a young woman killed while walking on the beach in FL when a wave "pulled her into the water" (the paper's words). Why is someone at the beach ... during a tropical storm?

Here is a taped interview about the wind surfer does it look like a hurricane to you. The weather may have been bad but all i see is a bright sunny day.

I've watched guys here in ocean city Maryland they can ride a strong gust of wind for a long way.

This guy got cought in a strong gust of win not a full blown hurricane.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-flbsurfer0820sbaug20,0,1848017.story

@Four4me
Since I live in FL I've seen this story many times and not once has anyone mentioned he taught the sport. He did say in an interview at the hospital that he was about to take off his equipment, but I agree with Rick. It wasn't a hurricane, but the winds were almost at hurricane force, often gusting to 70mph. (just shy of a cat 1)   He obviously thought it would be fun to challenge Mother Nature. Here is another link that is from the Miami Herald. Fort Lauderdale is just north of Miami. I can't find anything that even indicates he was an instructor, although it might be true. Didn't realize his injuries were "critical" since I saw his on the news after the incident. Hope he gets better and doesn't suffer any permanent brain damage since he did have some swelling. I think he learned his lesson.
http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/649030.html

Time*treat, I admit I almost went to the beach (it's very close) to look at the waves. Monday night's sunset was gorgeous and I did run down to take a walk. But when the news reported that there might be a storm surge and that winds were gusting at 60 or 70mph, I changed my mind. I would never have gotten in the water however. Still, even being outside during a storm is dangerous because of falling trees and power lines. Even a common object like a mailbox can become deadly when it's headed right at you! We didn't get hit too badly around here. However, I don't take chances like that, so I passed. However, had I decided to walk on the beach and was hurt, I would expect someone to call me a fool.

Well, now he's really famous (at least for a couple of days) He was just interviewed on ABC and he's okay, but he says he would go back and wind surf during a storm again. He also said life is too important and he would pack up a little earlier, so the woman interviewing him was a bit thrown (as was I) that he said a tropical storm warning wouldn't stop him in the future. Don't know if this link will work. Link to the ABC video.   Guess I shouldn't judge him since people do dangerous things for a thrill all the time. However, my frustration is when something goes wrong and someone else has to pay for it. I feel badly for his Mom. She really looked upset.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9436627&ch=4226713&src=news

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=9436627&ch=4226713&src=news

I know guys who would jump at the chance to surf when they hear a hurricane is about to come up the coast they are on their way. I've see them line up along the beach I'm not talking about your average person who has only surfed 3 ft waves these guys live for the 10 - 20 - 30 ft. waves which only come along a few times a season on the Atlantic.

I heard the wind surfer was an instructor on the news last night. Some people go to great length to get their adrenalin rush. I have hung off of scaffolds on some pretty tall buildings. People said we were nuts. I said i have a cable and two ropes if i fall my safety harness will stop me. You ride an elevator if it falls try and stop that. So who crazier the guy that rides a scaffold on the outside of a building or the person who gets in a elevator without anyway of stooping it if it should fall.

The wind surfer got caught in a gust of wind an unfortunate accident. He was leaving the beach had he of been closer to the water he would have got the ride of his life.

One can hope he'll mature.

@Four4me. Okay - point taken. I just hope the people who choose to live on the wild side don't expect their insurance companies or employers to pay their bills when something goes wrong. I think it's really insane, but you're right about people who take big risks. However, I really believe this young man deserves a Darwin Award.

@Four4me. Okay - point taken. I just hope the people who choose to live on the wild side don't expect their insurance companies or employers to pay their bills when something goes wrong. I think it's really insane, but you're right about people who take big risks. However, I really believe this young man deserves a Darwin Award.

I say a "Double Darwin" shaken, not stirred.

I lived on Indian Rocks Beach Florida when I was 9 to 10 years old. A storm blew in creating 10 to 15 ft. waves, pretty high considering the gulf side of Florida. My mother wanted me to learn about undertow because I was always in the surf, mostly alone. We tied a clothesline around me and I waded in. About 30 foot out, my feet were swept from under me, and I was sucked under and carried out until I reached the end of the rope.

I learned a lesson that day that will remain with me until the end,

"By the way, I'm not only talking about Florida. People just don't listen. "

They don't read either. We have beaches around here with signs warning of undertows and rip currents and don't swim yadda yadda....but yet again someone either ignored them or didn't read them and drowned this month. They found his body several days later about 5 miles away.

It takes the USCG Helicopter 5 hours to get here from its base but the water is so cold that when they get here they are looking for the body/ies.
Another place around here that people don't read the sign is on a Breakwall. The waves break on it and shoot over it over 30 Feet high. A sign is posted saying not to go out on it during a storm (duh!, who needs a sign) but some people just cant comprehend such things.